“The Right and Wrong of Laminate Floor Installation and Information on Laminate Flooring Problems”

Acclimation: Laminate flooring should be delivered to the job site and acclimated to the environment in which it is to be installed. Most laminate floors need to be acclimated to the installation environment for 48 to 72 hours prior to installation.  Failure to acclimate may result in floor failure. Read More

Unlevel Subfloor Below Laminate: Most laminate floor manufacturers require a subfloor to be flat within 3/16″ over a 10 foot radius. Not all laminate manufacturers have the same standard. Play it safe and check the installation instructions for the manufacturer of the floor to be installed. Read more

Expansion Space Around Walls and Fixed Objects: During installation the proper expansion space must be left around all walls and vertical surfaces. Without the proper expansion space a floor may buckle and gap due to normal expansion and contraction of the laminate floating floor. Read more

Door Jambs: Door jambs should always be undercut. Undercutting allows the installer to run the laminate below the door jamb. Enough room must be left to allow for normal expansion and contraction of the laminate. Read More

T-Molding: Most laminate manufacturers require that a T-Molding be installed at all doorways under 4 feet wide. The T-Molding allows the laminate floating floor to expand and contract. Read More

Out of Rack Laminate Planks: Planks must be installed tightly together on both the short and long sides. When the laminate flooring is not installed tightly together a wedge shaped gap known as “Out of Rack” will occur. Read More

Improper Staggering of Laminate Floor: Laminate flooring manufacturers require their floors to be staggered anywhere from 8 to 12 inches or more. (See manufacturers installation instructions.) Read More

Tapping Block Damage: When a tapping block is used improperly or an objects such as a hammer is used, or planks are kicked together this can damage plank edges. Read More

Sealant Around Laminate Edges: Some laminate flooring manufacturers require a sealant to be used around objects such as sliding glass doors, kitchen cabinets, water heaters and in other areas prone to leaks and moisture. Read More

Gaps and Glue Voids: Voids in the glue as well as gaps will allow moisture to penetrate at the seam resulting in swelling along the plank edges. Read More

Interior Vapor Barrier Over Concrete Subfloor: When a laminate floating floor is installed over a concrete subfloor a moisture barrier must be used. Failing to install a proper vapor barrier will likely cause the laminate to expand resulting in problems such as cupping, tenting and gaps.  Read More

Interior Vapor Barrier Over Wood Sub Floors: It is important to note that you DO NOT install a vapor barrier over wood subfloor. Vapor barrier over wood will trap moisture and cause damage. Some laminate underlayments are a combination of vapor barrier and foam so take care in selection. Read More

Testing for Moisture: All concrete floors should be tested for moisture prior to installation of laminate floor covering. Newly poured concrete should be allowed to cure for at least 60 days prior to installation of the laminate floor. Read More

Chipped Laminate Planks: It is the responsibility of the installer to check all planks prior to installing. Most all manufacturers take the view that when you install a plank with a chip in it, this becomes your responsibility and not theirs. Read More

Chipped Plank Corners: Chips at plank corners, especially those that cross over between planks are caused either during the installation process, or a dropped object. Read More

Site Related Laminate Flooring Issues

Laminate Scratching and Scuffing: While some over zealous sales people tend to sell laminate floor as being indestructible most laminate flooring manufacturers state that their floor is scratch resistant. Scratch resistant is not the same as scratch proof. Read More

Caster Damage to Laminate Floor: The proper caster must be used on office and other rolling chairs. Read More

Dents, Gouges, Indentations in Laminate Floor: Like floors of wood and bamboo laminate floors are subject to denting when a heavy object is dropped on it. On a laminate floor dents from dropped objects will have stress cracks around the edge of the dent. Read More

Vapor Barrier in Crawl Space Requirement: Crawl  spaces must have a proper vapor barrier/ground cover properly installed over the soil. Read More

Plumbing and Appliance Leaks: Water damage from pluming and appliance leaks such as dishwashers, water heaters, washing machines and icemakers can result in buckling of a laminate floor. Read More

Flooding: Severe plumping leaks such as a pipe break or overflowing toilet will usually result in buckling of a laminate floor. Read More

Water Damage to Laminate Floor From Concrete: Moisture can enter into the back of a laminate floor resulting in cupping. An entire floor may cup from a concrete floor that is too wet. This can occur even when a vapor barrier has been used below the laminate floor. Read More

Water Damage Maintenance and Pet Damage: Spills and improper wet cleaning of a laminate floor can cause swelling at the laminate joints. This is often seen as puffy areas along the edge of the planks and frequently crosses between plank edges. Read More

Laminate Floor Manufacturing Issues

Delamination: When the laminate releases from the core material this results in delamination. Read More

Core Voids in surface of Laminate Floor: Core voids are manufacturer related indentations in the face of the laminate floor. Read More

Bumps or Blisters in Laminate Face: These small bumps in the finish of the laminate floor often look like a pimple and can be very difficult to see during installation. Read More

Chatter Marks: Chatter marks appear as wavy bands or lines across the width of the plank. Read More

Proud Edges: Proud edges are seen as a difference in height at the joints of the laminate plank. Proud edges can be found on the side or end. Read More

Fading: Fading warranties vary with each manufacturer. Read More

Micro Chipping: Micro chipping is seen as continuous small chips along the edge of the plank. Read More

Color Deviations: Some manufacturers state that there will not be a color difference between runs. When this is stated a color difference becomes a laminate floor manufacturing problem. A color difference would either be a difference in hue or shade. Read More

Printing Error: A solid spot on the printed design in a laminate floor is a print error. While this is a manufacturer related deficiency planks with an obvious printing error should not be installed.  Read More